Session E04: Toward Inclusive Excellence in Nuclear Science

Taking DEI from the trenches to the control room

We can all agree with the common goal of realizing an inclusive space where ALL physicists feel comfortable to exchange ideas and share their interest in physics. This cannot be achieved without recognizing the differences in the experience of minoritized groups, which includes, and is not limited to harassment, bullying, as well as many accumulated subtle biases. During this presentation we will shed light on some of these issues and discuss a number of ways that the DNP is working toward reducing their footprint in our community. Examples of initiatives that have been implemented in the last few years are: the DNP Allies program, the collection of stories in the Diary of Sarah-Jane, the importance of community agreements and the DNP DEI training for chairs. We will also mention other new initiatives that are in gestation within the newly formed DNP DEI committee.   

Broader impacts of STEM research and development of a diverse workforce

All NSF proposals are evaluated through use of two National Science Board (NSB) approved merit review criteria. In some instances, NSF employs additional criteria as required to highlight the specific objectives of certain programs and activities.  The two NSB approved review criteria are:

    Intellectual Merit: The Intellectual Merit criterion encompasses the potential to advance knowledge; and 

    Broader Impacts: The Broader Impacts criterion encompasses the potential to benefit society and contribute to the achievement of specific, desired societal outcomes.

Targets for broader impacts are purposefully not prescribed, but are left open to innovation from the field.  Training and mentoring of students and postdocs, as it pertains to building a skilled workforce in STEM, is the most common broader impact for fundamental research proposals.  However, there are many other ways that research proposals can achieve a desirable societal outcome.  The development and inclusion of a more diverse STEM workforce is one such effort. 

This talk will present some of the ways individual PIs are active in broadening the participation of underrepresented groups in STEM and also the programs NSF has to support institutional change toward a more inclusive and diverse STEM workforce.   

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